Are You Eating Right For Your Joints? - Intro

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints.

Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.

There are many forms of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.

The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), inheritance, infections, and unclear reasons (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus).

Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognosis. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and many have the potential to affect internal body areas.


PREVALENT DISEASE

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases and the leading cause of disability. Joint diseases account for half of all chronic conditions in people aged 60 or over1. Worldwide statistics also show that 1 child in 1000 has a form of juvenile arthritis2.

For most people arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. In fact, most people over the age of 50 show some signs of arthritis. Joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. Your doctor can tell if you have arthritis through blood tests and x-rays. He or she will then be able to help you decide on the best treatment for your case.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY ARTHRITIS?

Arthritis became more common with age and was more commonly reported by women than men. However, arthritis suffers include children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, became even more common in recent years. Gout also appears to be on the rise. Almost 9% of people reporting arthritis said arthritis limited their activities. So arthritis not only affects the ability of a person to perform daily chores but also a social and economic cost to the country at large.

It has been estimated that the total cost of the arthritis bill for the United States, in terms of hospitalization, doctor visits, medications, physical therapies, nursing home care, lost wages, early death, and family discord is over $50 billion dollars annually.

This does not include the nearly $2 billion spent each year in the United States on unproven remedies by patients addressing their symptoms on their own.

The total costs of arthritis in our nation cannot be underscored, despite the fact that such public health economic data may not be available currently.